You don’t have to be a Wall Street day trader to land a finance job, as there are many jobs available in finance that involve a multitude of skills and personalities. Since we live in a world where nearly everyone has personal finances, positions in the finance field are accessible and abundant.
For centuries, finance jobs have been attractive to workers. These opportunities are often lucrative and give insight into a topic that can be confusing and complicated to many. The information and skills gained in the finance industry directly translate to how individuals handle personal finances, which is a huge benefit of working in the industry.
Luckily for job seekers looking to break into finance, there are many jobs available, with that number growing. According to a July 2022 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, thousands of jobs have been added to the industry in the past two years.
“Employment in financial activities continued to trend up in July (+13,000) and is 95,000 above its February 2020 level,” the report states. Additionally, in July 2022 alone, commercial banking added 5,000 jobs, proving there are plenty of opportunities in finance.
How To Search for Jobs in Finance
You can search most job board to find finance jobs. However, the more popular the platform, the more competition applicants run into. There are other options available that don’t have as heavy competition, you just have to know where to find them. Deepen your job search by exploring the following resources:
Reddit is a community forum that tackles all kinds of topics. Broken into ‘subreddits,’ these topics vary from funny content to skincare advice, career building and more. There are a few finance-specific subreddits that include job opportunities, resources and advice.
Keep up with the latest news and updates in the finance industry. For people looking to break into a finance job, this is a great place to learn and participate in conversations with other users in the subreddit.
This is the best forum to actively search for opportunities and ask advice. It features a new post every few minutes and as of this writing, the subreddit boasts more than 560,000 members. Reddit users—or, Redditors—share tips on how to organize financial-specific resumes, how to network, advice on whether to take a job or not and many more valuable resources.
Similar to the Finance subreddit, r/FinanceNews offers news, updates and trends on the global finance industry.
Specialized Facebook Groups
Did you know roughly 70 percent of job opportunities are not published on public platforms? Those jobs are filled through networks and are challenging to find.
With Facebook Groups, opportunities are accessible on a platform many people log into every day. Fellow users post their job needs, and group members connect if they feel they are a good fit. The following two groups have thousands of members contributing every few hours.
In this group, people solicit individuals for particular finance needs. Opportunities range from full time to part time, and are communicated quickly, clearly and concisely. Typically, job solicitors are looking to fill these roles fast.
Accounting, Finance Jobs and Training
This group is geared toward giving professionals a leg up in the finance world. It includes job opportunities, as well as resources on how to enhance your finance knowledge and skills.
Niche platforms
Platforms like Indeed have provided a streamlined job-hunting experience. But as mentioned earlier, they are popular and come with competition. Below are a few niche platforms that offer only finance opportunities.
The Association features a job board specific to finance careers.
This platform focuses only on finance opportunities within the nonprofit sector.
Jobs in finance, banking and accounting.
Browse nearly 15,000 jobs in the finance industry.
What Types of Jobs Are in Finance?
With currency being such a large part of our world, there are many types of jobs available in finance — both full time and part time. In larger companies, the organization will need an accountant or chief financial officer on staff, while small businesses or self-employed workers often contract these services out.
With multiple options available, job seekers can target the roles that best fit their personal experience and interests. Here are a few examples of the dozens of opportunities available in the finance field.
Accountant
Accountants work with financial records to ensure the connected entity is complying with the law and running smoothly. Most professionals connect the accountant to their paychecks, as accountants manage company payroll. But they also are in charge of overseeing budgets, ledgers and filing taxes on behalf of the company.
Accounting firms offer the same service to individuals and businesses looking to contract their accounting services. These firms are made up of multiple financial experts that work with many clients, with some—like H&R Block—more visible than others.
Investment banker
Investment bankers are specific to investment banks, which are institutions that assist companies and governments with raising capital, executing mergers and acquisitions and managing initial public offerings (IPOs). These are all major financial moves that often involve other people and businesses, which is why investment bankers serve as an advisor or middle person.
Take launching an IPO as an example. Investment bankers are responsible for creating the prospectus, a legal document that companies must file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) before offering an investment opportunity (i.e. stocks) to the public. Investors then utilize this document when they decide whether or not to invest in an opportunity.
Advisor
To become a financial advisor, you will need a lot of experience. That’s because clients come to advisors for their knowledge. Individuals trust advisors to look at their finances and create a plan to reach financial goals. Essentially, they manage your money and help you find the best investment opportunities, offer tax solutions and effectively maintain a budget.
Marketer
Large financial institutions need informed marketers to gain new customers and grow the company. In this scenario, a person’s marketing knowledge and proven results often overlap with their financial experience. For individuals with these skills, getting a marketing position in the finance industry offers access to increased financial knowledge.
Junior tax associate
This position is more entry level than the previous ones, however, becoming a junior tax associate is an accessible way into the finance industry. For recent college graduates or career changers, becoming a junior tax associate is great career education and opens the door to opportunities to upskill and earn promotions.
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Creating the Perfect Application Package
Once you narrow down the finance opportunities you want to pursue, it’s time to put together a winning resume and cover letter. Remember to keep things simple with font, colors, graphics and formatting. Only include necessary information and ensure the documents are easy to read.
Here are a few other tips for standing out amongst other candidates.
Only include your most relevant experience
The financial field is full of skilled jobs, which means targeting your resume and cover letter to the specific job you are pursuing will equate to better results. Gather all skills and experience — regardless of whether they are in the finance industry — that best fit the opportunity and get rid of the rest. Hiring managers are looking for the best fit, so tailor your application package to the job listing.
When thinking of your experience, connect the dots to finance whenever possible. If you do not have a rich history in finance, discuss your relationship to numbers, money, budgeting, etc. Share the skills you’ve developed to manage your own finances or any past experience that can easily transfer to the field.
Be engaging
Hiring managers don’t want to read boring resumes and cover letters. Make a splash by using your application package to paint a picture of your experience and skills. Tell an engaging story in your cover letter, share how a certain accomplishment made you feel. Essentially, remind hiring managers that you are a human with passions and goals.
Use hard data
Hard data is proof that you know what you’re doing. What looks better? Saying you are a leader or listing the number of projects, teams and individuals you’ve led throughout your career? Regardless of the industry, highlighting your accomplishments through numbers always gives a clearer picture of your capabilities.
This industry utilizes hard data on a regular basis, so the best way to communicate with those within finance is to use data to tell a story. Quantify your experience whenever possible and take out any bullet point or sentence that isn’t specific to your skills or experience. (“Organized,” “detail oriented” and “self directed” are a few terms that are often thrown around, yet don’t convey much personal information.)
As you’re applying to financial jobs, keep track of your job search and applications with Teal’s Job Application Tracker. The tool helps job seekers keep organized, track their application status and determine which opportunities are best.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in the finance industry?
Like any industry, there are diverse job functions that have varying salaries. Entry-level positions earn around $50,000 per year, while executive positions typically earn six figures. Compiling all salaries within the financial industry, the average salary is between $80,000 and $90,000.
Do I need experience if I’ve never worked in finance?
It depends on the role. For many jobs, you need a degree, specialized skills, relevant experience or all three. Other jobs are entry level, which can offer experience needed to grow your career in the financial industry.
How do I know which career path is best for me?
One way to narrow down your career options is to evaluate your existing skills and experience and compare how they fit into various finance roles. From there, choose the options that seem most interesting or the best use of your skills.
There is also the option to start from scratch. If there is a specific role or roles you think you’ll find success in, reach out to your network to try to get a foot in the door. You could get a degree in that concentration. However, starting with online courses and study materials could give you a leg up.
Is there a finance professional in your life? Ask them some of their favorite books, podcasts, webinars and other professional-development resources.
